| This is a wonderful time of year to rent a | | | | phone; and flashlight. Do not travel without |
| cottage. There's little more romantic than | | | | adequate winter clothing in the car - boots, coat |
| wrapping up warm for a moonlit walk on a frozen | | | | and gloves are essential. |
| lake, with the smell of wood smoke in the air, and | | | | Power outages may occur during a winter storm |
| the canopy of stars glittering overhead. Returning | | | | and may last for a few hours or a day or more. |
| to your cosy cottage to curl up in front of the | | | | Ask the cottage owner what you should do in the |
| fire and reflect on yet another beautiful day in | | | | event of an outage occurring - for example, what |
| cottage country rounds off an evening perfectly. | | | | number you should call to report the outage, what |
| And there are plenty of cottages for you to | | | | precautions you should take to prevent frozen |
| choose from if you are willing to look around the | | | | pipes, and where the emergency kit is kept. Few |
| web. | | | | cottages have generators so be prepared to use |
| Here are a few words of caution though, as | | | | candles and gas lamps for lighting, and the |
| cottage country conditions in winter can be quite | | | | barbecue for cooking. There should be a supply of |
| challenging, and you do need to be fully prepared. | | | | water for using to flush toilets, and drinking water |
| Make sure the road leading to the cottage you | | | | for other use. |
| have booked is plowed regularly, and if it is rented | | | | Listen to local radio while you are at the cottage |
| in winter, it certainly should be. However, after | | | | as this will give you the most accurate information |
| heavy snowfall or a winter storm, it may be | | | | on approaching weather systems. If you go out |
| several hours (or days) before the road will be | | | | for a winter walk, check the forecast before you |
| plowed out (depending on the severity of the | | | | go as weather conditions can change rapidly. Keep |
| storm). Check with the owner on the usual delay | | | | to marked trails as even a nicely cleared trail can |
| and prepare to be patient. The plow will eventually | | | | become snow covered and obscured in a very |
| come! | | | | short space of time. |
| A winter storm could extend your stay | | | | When leaving the cottage at the end of your |
| unexpectedly if you become snowed in. If you | | | | stay, follow the instructions in the cottage guide |
| take regular medication it would be wise to take | | | | carefully, specifically those that refer to |
| along enough for a few days more than you | | | | thermostat settings and whether doors are to be |
| need, just in case. Think about this when you are | | | | left open. A closed door to a bathroom could |
| packing up food as well as take along a little extra. | | | | have disastrous results if a pipe freezes and then |
| Roads will be snow covered, and in many cases | | | | bursts when the temperature rises again. |
| icy, so extreme caution is advised. Winter tires | | | | Conditions can be vastly different than those |
| are essential and 4WD recommended for many | | | | experienced in the city, even just a couple of |
| cottages. Neighboring cottagers are always willing | | | | hours north. Snow squalls off Georgian Bay occur |
| to help anyone who does get stuck, but will not | | | | regularly in the Southern Georgian Bay/Parry |
| be impressed by visitors who are ill-equipped to | | | | Sound/Huntsville area. Check the forecast before |
| cope with extreme conditions. | | | | you travel. |
| Keep the following in your car during your trip to | | | | Winter in Ontario cottage country is outstandingly |
| cottage country: a snow shovel; blankets; cell | | | | beautiful - come and enjoy! |